Possessing a weapon for sport shooting: What are the rules?
Verified 01 January 2024 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
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Handgun (pistol, revolver)
To possess a weapon intended for the practice of sport shooting, you must to apply for authorization.
The handguns which you can hold to practice sport shooting are the following:
Weapon | Category | Applicable regime | Conditions to be fulfilled |
|---|---|---|---|
Handgun + weapon converted to handgun not included in other categories | B |
| |
1-shot ring percussion handgun | B |
|
1-shot long gun
To hold a weapon intended for the practice of sport shooting, you must make a application for authorization (category B weapon) or a reporting (category C weapon).
The 1 shot long guns which you can hold to practice sport shooting are the following:
Weapon | Characteristic of the weapon | Category | Applicable regime | Conditions to be fulfilled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Long gun | Total length of 80 cm + or barrel length of 45 cm to + | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Weapon of the following calibers: 7,62 × 39, 5,56 × 45, 5,45 × 39, 12,7 × 99, 14,5 × 114 | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | ||
1 shot long gun per barrel | C | - Be an adult and hold a valid license from the French Shooting Federation or - be a minor over 12 years of age, authorized by legal representative and holder of a valid license from the Fédération française de tir |
Manual Repeating Long Gun
To hold a weapon intended for the practice of sport shooting, you must make a application for authorization (category B weapon) or a reporting (category C weapon).
The hand-repeating long guns which you can hold to practice sport shooting are the following:
Weapon | Characteristic of the weapon | Category | Applicable regime | Conditions to be fulfilled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Manual repeating shoulder gun | Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter 31 hits maximum without replenishment | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Long gun | Total length of 80 cm + or barrel length of 45 cm to + | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Repeatedly smooth-barreled shoulder gun | Total length of 80 cm + or barrel length of 60 cm to + | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Repeating shoulder firearm with pump-type recharging device | Smooth-barreled weapon and certain rifled guns | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Weapon of the following calibers: 7,62 × 39, 5,56 × 45, 5,45 × 39, 12,7 × 99, 14,5 × 114 | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | ||
Manual repeating shoulder gun | Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter Firing 11 rounds at + without replenishment | C | - Be an adult and hold a valid license from the French Shooting Federation or - be a minor over 12 years of age, authorized by legal representative and holder of a valid license from the Fédération française de tir | |
Manual repeating shoulder gun | Striped barrel equipped with a reloading device with a chambered pump for gages 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 410 Maximum capacity of 5 strokes Total length greater than 80 cm Gun length greater than 60 cm Fixed stock | C | - Be an adult and hold a valid license from the French Shooting Federation or - be a minor over 12 years of age, authorized by legal representative and holder of a valid license from the Fédération française de tir |
Automatic or semi-automatic repeating long gun
To hold a weapon intended for the practice of sport shooting, you must make a application for authorization (category B weapon) or a reporting (category C weapon).
The automatic or semi-automatic repeating long guns which you can hold to practice sport shooting are the following:
Weapon | Characteristic of the weapon | Category | Applicable regime | Conditions to be fulfilled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi-automatic center-fire long gun | Weapon capable of firing more than 11 strokes without recharging, with built-in charger of more than 10 cartridges or when a removable charger of more than 10 cartridges is inserted | A Namely: the weapon remains classified in category B if the magazine is not inserted. Only the charger is classified in category A. | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Semi-automatic repeating shoulder firearm, center-fire | Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter Maximum 11 moves without replenishment | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Semi-automatic repeating shoulder firearm with ring percussion | Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter 31 hits maximum without replenishment | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Long gun | Total length of 80 cm + or barrel length of 45 cm to + | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Semi-automatic repeating smooth-barreled shoulder gun | Total length of 80 cm + or barrel length of 60 cm to + | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Semi-automatic repeating long gun | Looks like an automatic weapon | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | |
Weapon of the following calibers: 7,62 × 39, 5,56 × 45, 5,45 × 39, 12,7 × 99, 14,5 × 114 | B | - Be an adult or minor selected for international shooting competitions - Medical certificate or sports license stamped by the doctor - Favorable opinion of the French Shooting Federation | ||
Semi-automatic repeating long gun | Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter Firing 3 ammunition at + without replenishment | C | - Be an adult and hold a valid license from the French Shooting Federation or - be a minor over 12 years of age, authorized by legal representative and holder of a valid license from the Fédération française de tir |
Please note
one semi-automatic central-firing weapon with a magazine with a capacity greater than 10 cartridges integrated into the weapon was classified in category B until July 31, 2018. You must to submit an application for renewal of the authorization at the latest 3 months before the expiry date of the authorization.
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You're an adult
You participate in national or international competitions
You can acquire and hold to the maximum 15 weapons authorized for sport shooting.
If you have more than 15 weapons, you have until December 31, 2024 to regularize your situation (divestment or neutralization).
You don't compete
You're a first-time applicant
You are first-time applicant if you are in one of these three situations :
- You're asking for 1re once an authorization to acquire and possess weapons.
- You were just 18 years old and, before your majority, you had a minor-specific authorization to possess weapons
- You had an authorization to acquire and possess weapons, but you were registered in the FINIADA: titleContent
You can hold as much as possible 6 weapons authorized for sport shooting for 5 years from your 1re detention order.
These weapons may only be used in the shooting stands of sports associations approved for shooting.
You're in a different situation
You can acquire and hold to the maximum 15 weapons authorized for sport shooting.
These weapons may only be used in the shooting stands of sports associations approved for shooting.
If you have more than 15 weapons, you have until December 31, 2024 to regularize your situation (divestment or neutralization).
You are under 12 years of age or older
Of specific rules apply to a minor who practices sport shooting.
You participate in international competitions
You can hold as much as possible 15 weapons authorized for sport shooting.
If you have more than 15 weapons, you have until December 31, 2024 to regularize your situation (divestment or neutralization).
You're in a different situation
You can detain up to 3 weapons 1-stroke ring-percussion handfire.
These weapons may only be used in the shooting stands of sports associations approved for shooting.
Please note
The carcasses and lower parts of cylinder head boxes are taken into account in the weapons quota since 1er September 2023. This rule applies regardless of when they were acquired. Other weapon components remain excluded from the quota for weapons acquisition and possession. If you exceed the weapons quota, you have until August 31, 2024 to regularize your situation (divestment or neutralization).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- Prefecture
Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section
The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.
By mail
Police prefecture
General Police Directorate
Office of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By E-mail
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General provisions on arms
Classification of war materials, weapons and ammunition
Decision of the administration
Filing and processing of applications
Validity of the authorization
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